This is the sequel to "Nightmares, Hope, and a Small Bit of Truth." This is rated R, that is probably too strong of a rating. Be forewarned. This is NOT a happy story. It is sad and somewhat disturbing. There are some references to torture, but none too graphic. If this makes you uncomfortable please do not read this. The idea's came from the book "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. The title of this section also came from that story, and I therefore am not taking credit for the title. I highly recommend the book, even though it left such an impression on me. I wrote this as a form of therapy, since the above mentioned book effected me so much. I hope that all enjoy this. I would appreciate comments.

       He went to her, her face was void of emotion. She looked at him, but there was only a vague awareness in her eyes of who he was.

"Dana, let's go." he reached out to touch her arm.

       He wanted so much to hold her and take away all of the pain. He would have endured everything she did just to take away the anguish in those eyes. Those eyes that had kept him from the brink of insanity, now were at the brink of madness. Those who did this would pay and pay dearly.

"Fox...." she struggled to speak, but the days of screaming had rendered her voice harsh and raspy.

"It's o.k. There gone." She looked around her as if she suddenly remembered what had happened.

"Fox... I'm sorry." She fell into his arms, the remainder of her strength was finally depleted.

"Dana, sit down. We need to decide what to do. Where do you want me to take you. Do you want to go to the doctor? If not, we can just stay here.'' He knew she would not.

       What had been done to her would leave no physical scars, only emotional ones. Those they both knew sometimes never healed.

"Here. Can I have... water."

"Sure, just a minute."

       As Fox headed to the kitchen, Dana glanced out the window. Her mind had blocked out so much of what had happened over the last few days, but it could not block the guilt and remorse that she felt. She had told them all of her secrets. Even those that she had kept hidden so deep inside her that she sometimes did not even know they were there.

       She had told them of her feelings for Fox. That she could live with. No matter how painful the thought of admitting those most cherished secrets was. There was one secret that she had told that left her devastated. She had told them his secret. She held out as long as she could but the pain was so severe and unrelenting that she would have told them anything to make it stop. She felt so cowardly and weak that she could barely look at him. She could not erase the memory of his face as he was forced to watch what they did to her. When she told them where Samantha was, she could not bear to look at him. She had betrayed him and worse she had handed Samantha to them. The real Samantha. Fox's life long quest had been fulfilled only to have her weakness rip his happiness away.

"Here you go, Dana." Fox, handed her the glass.

       His eyes never left her. She looked so small and fragile. He could still see her face the first time they laid that rod on her. He never would have believed that one simple piece of steel covered with leather could cause so much pain. Now he did. He had seen the agony cross her face as the men touched her with the rod. For hours this went on, without anyone asking questions. They knew how strong she was. They knew they would have to break her before she would tell them anything.

       When they finally began to ask questions, she would not answer. She was punished for this, but so was Fox - emotionally. When they asked him a question and he would not answer they would lay that damn leather rod on her. Fox joined her in the screams of agony that erupted from her mouth. For he felt it all, every touch of the rod he felt it. When they asked where Samantha was, he fought them. So did she. He held out as long as he could, but he finally could hold out no more. The screams wore him down. He cried as he told them, knowing that he would never again see Samantha. Somehow, never seeing her was not as painful as watching Dana being tortured. To make sure he was not lying the men spent another hour asking Dana where she was. When they were finally convinced that both had told the truth they were released. Let go. The already fragile grip that both held to reality had been severed by a simple leather wrapped steel rod.

       In the darkness of his apartment they sat. Each consumed with thoughts of what they had done and the consequences of those actions. Guilt hung thick in the air like a fog that was engulfing their souls. Souls that if joined could help the other heal. However, the guilt was stifling and no comfort would come tonight. Each feared the other, feared what the other thought of the actions they had taken. Fear was something that had never existed between them. Fear was what had joined them over the years. Fear of those they hunted and of those that hunted them. Now fear was turning it grasp against them.